I looked at the shoes my cousin was wearing at last night's party and thought - awesome! I thought pretty much the same thing watching tonight's firework display from the window. It's a word that's in the common parlance. Once upon a long time ago, I might have said - groovy. Cool has risen from the dead, although I feel like a ninny saying it, so I don't.

But I like awesome because it contains an emotion - awe. And that's what I felt when all the entries to The Exeter Novel Prize slid into the CWMatters inbox. So much imagination, so much endeavour! I wish you could all win.

The team has already begun The Big Read and we hope to have further news by the New Year.